Gov. Murphy: NJ Close To Ordering New COVID-19 Restrictions – Point Pleasant, NJ Patch

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy says New Jersey is “close” to ordering new restrictions now that coronavirus numbers continue to be on the rise in the Garden State.

Murphy, speaking during his Thursday news conference, did not say what steps New Jersey may take, but he noted the Garden State may have to “balance all the various challenges and interests that we have right now.”

“How close are we to doing something? Close,” Murphy said. “So bear with us.”

Murphy made the statement as New Jersey had its second consecutive day of reporting 2,000 new daily cases or more, the first time that’s happened in seven months. Read more: 1st Back-To-Back 2K COVID Days Since April As NJ ‘Hotspots’ ID’d

Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said “hotspot” teams were being deployed to nine counties as more than 6,000 new cases were tallied over the last three days “This virus has not taken a break and we cannot either,” she said.

Murphy noted that Bergen, Essex and Passaic counties clocked more than 200 daily positives on Thursday while Camden, Hudson, Monmouth and Union had more than 100. Thursday’s tally of 2,104 positive cases brings the cumulative COVID-19 total to 247,219.

There were also 12 new reported COVID-19 deaths for a statewide total of 14,603. After months of hospitalizations hovering around 200, New Jersey had 1,224 hospitalizations with 238 individuals in critical care on Thursday.

Murphy has been resistant to reversing reopening decisions, especially since he got backlash when he canceled plans to reopen indoor dining in early July. He later reopened it at 25 percent capacity in early September.

But Murphy has repeatedly expressed concern over the much-higher risk associated with indoor activities versus outdoor, where the virus is 1/19 less effective.

“We’re looking at a number of different steps we’re going to have to take,” Murphy said.

When cases have spiked in recent months, the governor has taken steps to restrict the capacity of indoor and outdoor gatherings.

Murphy did say the state has had “really good success” with reopening its economy and schools, where there have been very few outbreaks. He has said that spikes in cases have been mostly associated with family gatherings and parties.

He also issued a warning about Thanksgiving, urging people not to hold family gatherings that could cause the virus to spread.

“We will clearly be taking action and I hope it will be action that balances all the various challenges and interests that we have right now,” Murphy said.

Murphy made his remarks at the 41-minute mark:

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